The increasing and indiscriminate use of synthetic fertilizers and pesticides and deteriorating soil health and productivity is concerning people all over the world. Growing awareness for safe and healthy food has underlined the importance of organic farming, which is a holistic system based on the basic principle of minimizing the use of external inputs and avoiding the use of synthetic fertilizers and pesticides.

In view of these challenge, there is a need in the country to augment the infrastructure for production of quality organic and biological inputs. Accordingly, under National Project on Organic Farming a Capital Investment Subsidy Scheme for Commercial Production Units for organic/ biological Inputs has been introduced. The scheme is being implemented by the Department of Agriculture & Cooperation through National Centre of Organic Farming (NCOF) in collaboration with NABARD or National Cooperative Development Corporation (NCDC).

The scheme is being implemented since 2004-05.

Objectives of the Scheme

To promote organic farming in the country by making available organic inputs, such as biofertilisers, biopesticides and fruit & vegetable market waste compost and thereby generate better return for the produce